Surprising fact: the average open rate in the restaurant industry sits at just 20.26% — which means the right tool can change how many guests see your offers.
You’re here to compare the top systems that move the needle on reservations, orders, and repeat visits. This short guide shows who fits best, which features matter, and quick tests to run during free trials.
Expect clear pricing cues, automation examples like birthday journeys and reservation upsells, and integration notes for POS and ordering systems. We highlight powerful automation in ActiveCampaign and GetResponse and simpler, budget-friendly choices like AWeber and Mailchimp.
Move fast: try hands-on trials to validate fit. You can start GetResponse’s 30‑day free trial right away to test templates, automations, and segmentation — try it here: Try GetResponse free for 30 days. For a side-by-side reference, see a full comparison at best email marketing platform.
Key Takeaways
- Average open rate is 20.26% — software choice affects reach and revenue.
- Test free plans and trials to confirm automation and integrations.
- Focus on features that drive repeat visits: journeys, confirmations, win‑backs.
- Compare pricing and plans to avoid surprise costs as your list grows.
- Integrations with POS and ordering systems keep guest data useful.
- Start with a 30‑day trial like GetResponse to validate real results quickly.
Search intent and why this matters now for restaurants and cafes
When hospitality teams search for sending tools, they usually mean business this month—not next quarter. Restaurant messages average a 20.26% open rate, which shows clear buyer intent when timing and content align.
You need fast setup and measurable ROI. Simple forms at booking, checkout, or Wi‑Fi sign‑up feed your list. That list then powers automated flows that lift reservations and repeat visits.
Compare features, pricing, and reviews quickly. Mailchimp gives many integrations and templates but limits free support. Moosend competes on budget with a 30‑day free trial and solid help. MailerLite offers a generous free plan and optional trials to unlock advanced tools.
- Test two solutions with free trials and compare same‑day opens and clicks.
- Prioritize integrations that remove manual CSVs and simplify list management.
- If you’re on a deadline, start a free 30‑day GetResponse trial now: https://www.getresponse.com/?a=MacDnqpGmR.
How to choose: criteria that actually move the needle for restaurants
Choose tools that simplify guest data, trigger timely offers, and prove ROI fast.
Start with list structure. Define segments like first‑time diners, VIPs, birthday month guests, and lapsed visitors. Make sure your automation and email flows support those journeys.
Evaluate contact limits and pricing models. Some vendors cap contacts; others cap monthly sends. Brevo offers unlimited contacts with volume‑based pricing, which can suit multi‑site groups.
- Require visual automation, behavior triggers, dynamic templates, mobile designs, and clear analytics.
- Demand integrations with POS, reservations, and online ordering so orders update profiles automatically.
- Check CRM depth: lifetime value, last visit date, and customer preferences should be visible.
Test before you scale. Import 500–1,000 contacts and run a 7‑day bake‑off. Try GetResponse’s 30‑day free trial to validate AI email generation, autoresponders, contact scoring, and templates: https://www.getresponse.com/?a=MacDnqpGmR
Email Marketing Platforms for Restaurants and Cafes: the top 5 picks at a glance
This shortlist highlights the tools that balance automation, cost, and ease of use for busy teams. Below you’ll find who each fits best, quick pricing cues by month, and trial details so you can test before committing.
Who they fit best and why
- ActiveCampaign — Best for data-driven groups. Lite from $29/month for 1,000 contacts; deep automation and CRM.
- GetResponse — Balanced automation + templates. From $15.6/month for 1,000 contacts; 30-day free trial and AI email generator. Try GetResponse free for 30 days: https://www.getresponse.com/?a=MacDnqpGmR
- Brevo (Sendinblue) — Best value: free 300 emails/day; Starter ~$22/month; unlimited contacts and volume pricing.
- Mailchimp — Broad integrations; free plan up to 500 contacts; Essentials from $13/month; support tiers vary.
- AWeber — Simple setup and deliverability; free up to 500 subscribers; Lite from $22.50/month.
Free plan and trial snapshot
Try two tools side-by-side: import the same 500 contacts and run identical campaigns. Compare opens, clicks, and bookings over seven days.
| Provider | Free/Trial | Starter month |
|---|---|---|
| ActiveCampaign | 14-day trial | $29 |
| GetResponse | 30-day free trial | $15.6 |
| Brevo | 300/day | $22 |
Advanced automation and CRM to drive loyalty and repeat visits
Advanced automation turns one-off guests into steady regulars through timed, data-driven sequences.
ActiveCampaign suits teams that need deep segmentation and lifecycle tracking. Site tracking, dynamic content, and advanced segmentation let you build welcome series, birthday offers, winback flows, and post‑visit review requests that update the crm in real time. Lite starts at $29/month for 1,000 contacts; Plus, Pro, and Enterprise scale up to match needs.
GetResponse delivers quick wins with drag‑and‑drop workflows, AI email generation, autoresponders, and contact scoring. Pricing begins at $15.6/month for 1,000 contacts and includes a mobile app and responsive templates.
- Use predictive sending and split paths to personalize offers by last visit and ticket size.
- Launch behavioral workflows for cart/ordering abandonment, event signups, and cross‑sell series.
- Compare month‑over‑month opens, clicks, and redemptions to judge ROI before upgrading.
| Tool | Key automation | Starter month |
|---|---|---|
| ActiveCampaign | Advanced segmentation, site tracking, dynamic content | $29 |
| GetResponse | Behavioral workflows, AI content, responsive templates | $15.6 |
| Outcome | Better personalization and higher engagement | Validate with a 2‑week pilot |
Try GetResponse free for 30 days: https://www.getresponse.com/?a=MacDnqpGmR. Prototype two automations and a newsletter this month, then document playbooks to repeat success across locations.
Budget-friendly simplicity without losing essential features
Pick solutions that prioritize simplicity without sacrificing essential automation and templates. Small teams need fast setup, predictable pricing, and tools that handle the basics well.
MailerLite: intuitive editors, AI helpers, and a generous free plan
MailerLite offers drag-and-drop, rich-text, and HTML editors. Its AI assistants speed up copy and subject-line drafts.
Use the free plan to validate your initial list and launch a welcome series without budget stress. Then test a/b testing on subject lines to increase opens during slow nights.
AWeber: straightforward builder, templates, and strong support
AWeber has a free plan up to 500 subscribers and paid tiers starting at $22.50/month. Teams praise its templates and responsive support.
Start on a free plan, run two trials, and measure lift in reservations within a week. Export-free integrations and simple forms keep your list updated so staff stay focused on guests.
- Keep pricing predictable: move to paid month tiers only as list and automations expand.
- Use templates: promote weekly specials, birthday coupons, and first-order offers with minimal setup.
- Review quarterly: avoid overpaying if a newsletter plus three automations covers your playbook.
Multichannel marketing and list growth at scale
A growth plan that pairs SMS with inbox campaigns reduces no-shows and boosts repeat visits.
Brevo (Sendinblue) bundles email, SMS, and a lightweight CRM with unlimited contacts and volume-based pricing.
The free plan gives 300 emails/day. Starter begins at $22/month, Business at $58/month. SMS and CRM modules add multichannel reach without charging by contact count.
Mailchimp
Mailchimp offers templates, a creative assistant, and wide integrations. The free plan covers 500 contacts; Essentials starts at $13/month, Standard $20/month, Premium $350/month.
Support levels vary: email/chat on lower tiers, phone support only on Premium. Expect different response times as users scale.
- Choose Brevo if you need CRM + SMS with volume pricing instead of contact caps.
- Pick Mailchimp for fast templates and broad integrations to drive promos and events.
- Run a two-week side-by-side trial to validate deliverability, automation, and support response.
| Provider | Free cap | Starter month | Key multichannel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brevo | 300 emails/day | $22 | Email + SMS + CRM, volume pricing |
| Mailchimp | 500 contacts | $13 | Templates, creative assistant, wide integrations |
| Growth tip | Test both | 2-week trial | Validate deliverability and support |
Restaurant-specific context: connect email with reservations and ordering
When reservation data flows into your messaging tool, every campaign becomes more personal and profitable. Connect bookings, orders, and guest profiles so messages reflect real activity. That relevance raises opens and drives bookings.
Why integrations with Tablein, OpenTable, resmio, and Toast improve campaign ROI
Tablein captures newsletter opt‑ins at booking and adds promo blocks to confirmations. It links with MailerLite and Mailchimp so signups sync automatically.
OpenTable automates personalized campaigns but note the Pro plan’s higher pricing at $499/month. It excels at anniversary and repeat‑guest templates.
resmio offers signup in booking and ordering flows; the email add‑on costs €19.90/month on Premium and is included in Ultimate.
Toast sends automated messages with AI copy help and templates. Availability is regional (US, CA, IE, UK), so confirm coverage before you commit.
Automated reservation follow‑ups, birthday offers, and order confirmation promos
- Connect data: sync reservations and ordering to keep messages timely and relevant.
- Use consent forms: embed forms at booking and checkout so opt‑ins stay clean and legal.
- Monetize confirmations: add upsell banners, event invites, and pre‑order links to high‑open messages.
- Automate follow‑ups: send thank‑yous, review requests, and bounce‑back offers within seven days.
- Personalize birthdays: trigger anniversary and birthday offers to fill slow nights.
| Integration | Key benefit | Pricing note |
|---|---|---|
| Tablein | Booking opt‑ins + promo in confirmations | Integrates with MailerLite, Mailchimp |
| OpenTable | Personalized guest campaigns, anniversary templates | Pro plan $499/month |
| resmio | Signup in booking/ordering flows | Email add‑on €19.90/month (Premium) |
| Toast | Automated messages + AI copy | Available US, CA, IE, UK |
Practical test: run a two‑week pilot that routes bookings to your crm, sends a confirmation upsell, and measures reservations, orders, and average check uplift. Prefer solutions that connect seamlessly to avoid duplicate management and surprise pricing.
Comparison highlights: features, pricing cues, and best-use scenarios
Focus on three trade-offs: automation depth, monthly price, and how fast your team can launch useful campaigns.
Automation depth vs. ease of use for lean teams
If you favor automation and CRM depth, ActiveCampaign and GetResponse lead. They support complex journeys, scoring, and dynamic content that lift repeat visits.
For speed and simplicity, MailerLite and AWeber win. They get a single user up and running fast with templates and straightforward editors.
Free plans, 30-day trials, and when to upgrade
Test with real data: run one newsletter plus two automated flows across two tools. Compare opens, clicks, and conversion; then check monthly pricing against projected growth.
- Watch the 500 contacts cap on free plans; plan upgrades when subscribers rise.
- Validate a/b testing, transactional emails, and signup options against your playbook.
- Consider custom pricing only if enterprise needs or compliance demand it; most businesses do fine on standard plans.
- Start a GetResponse 30‑day free trial to benchmark automation versus your current stack: https://www.getresponse.com/?a=MacDnqpGmR.
| Use case | Starter month | Quick verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Deep automation + crm | $29 (ActiveCampaign) / $15.6 (GetResponse) | Best for data-driven teams |
| Simple setup, fast send | $13 (Mailchimp) / free up to 500 contacts | Good for lean staff and quick campaigns |
| Multichannel volume | $22 (Brevo Starter) / free 300 emails/day | Choose if SMS and volume pricing matter |
Conclusion
,Choose a tool that makes sending regular offers simple, measurable, and repeatable across locations.
Keep it practical: automate core journeys, sync reservations and ordering so your staff avoids manual work, and keep your list and contacts clean. Focus on templates, personalization, and mobile previews so your brand looks crisp to every customer.
Compare two solutions side‑by‑side for a week. Measure opens, clicks, bookings, and revenue. Check reviews, support responsiveness, and month‑by‑month pricing before you commit.
Ready to validate fast? If you need a full‑featured start, try GetResponse free for 30 days today. Standardize your playbooks, document wins, and scale what works across sites.